The Official Feed and Food Controls Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009

PART 1PRELIMINARY

Citation and commencement

1.  These Regulations may be cited as the Official Feed and Food Controls Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009 and come into operation on 25th January 2010.

Interpretation

2.—(1) In these Regulations —

“the Agency” means the Food Standards Agency;

“authorised officer” —

“competent authority” means, other than in regulations 22 and 23, an authority which, by virtue of regulation 3, is designated for the purposes of any of the provisions of Regulation 882/2004;

“Directive 2004/41”, “Regulation 999/2001”, “Regulation 178/2002”, “Regulation 852/2004”, “Regulation 853/2004”, “Regulation 882/2004”, “Regulation 1688/2005”, “Regulation 2073/2005”, “Regulation 2074/2005”, “Regulation 1020/2008”, “Regulation 669/2009” and “Regulation 1162/2009” have the meanings respectively given to them in Schedule 1;

“the Department” means the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety;

“feed authority” means the authority identified in section 86(3) of the Agriculture Act 1970(1) as having a duty to enforce that Act;

“the Import Provisions” means Part 3 of these Regulations, Articles 15 to 24 of Regulation 882/2004 and Regulation 669/2009;

“the Official Control Regulations” means these Regulations and Regulation 882/2004;

“the Order” means the Food Safety (Northern Ireland) Order 1991(2)

“premises” includes any establishment, any place, vehicle, stall or moveable structure and any ship or aircraft;

“primary production” has the meaning it bears in Regulation 852/2004;

“relevant enforcement authority” means a body which, by virtue of regulation 16, is made responsible for executing and enforcing any provision of Part 2;

“relevant feed law” has the meaning given to it in Schedule 2;

“relevant food law” has the meaning given to it in Schedule 3.

(2) Subject to paragraph (3), any expression other than one defined in paragraph (1) that is used both in these Regulations and in the Order has the meaning it bears in the Order.

(3) Any expression used both in these Regulations and in Regulation 178/2002, Regulation 882/2004 or Regulation 669/2009 has the meaning it bears in Regulation 178/2002, Regulation 882/2004, or Regulation 669/2009 as the case may be.

(4) The Interpretation Act 1954(3) shall apply to these Regulations as it applies to an Act of the Northern Ireland Assembly.

(5) In these Regulations, any reference to an EU instrument defined in Schedule 1 is a reference to that instrument as for the time being amended.

PART 2MAIN PROVISIONS

Competent authorities

3.—(1) Subject to paragraph (4), any body specified in Column 1 of Schedule 4 is designated as a competent authority for the purposes of the provisions of Regulation 882/2004 indicated in the corresponding entry in Column 2 of that Schedule in so far as those provisions apply in relation to relevant feed law.

(2) Subject to paragraphs (3) to (5), any body specified in Column 1 of Schedule 5 is designated as a competent authority for the purposes of the provisions of Regulation 882/2004 indicated in the corresponding entry in Column 2 of that Schedule in so far as those provisions apply in relation to relevant food law.

(3) Where a district council is designated as a competent authority pursuant to paragraph (2) the designation shall extend to its district only.

(4) Where the Agency is designated as a competent authority pursuant to paragraph (1) or (2) for the purposes of Article 31(1) of Regulation 882/2004, the designation shall extend only to the operations in respect of which the Agency executes and enforces the Food Hygiene Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2006(4) by virtue of regulation 5(1)(a) of those Regulations.

(5) Where the Agency is designated as a competent authority pursuant to paragraph (2) for the purposes of Article 31(2) of Regulation 882/2004, the designation shall extend, as regards Article 31(2)(a) to (e), only to those operations in respect of which the Agency executes and enforces the Food Hygiene Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2006 by virtue of regulation 5(2) of those Regulations.

Exchanging and providing information

4.—(1) For the purposes of enabling competent authorities, other OFFC authorities and member States to fulfil the obligations placed upon them by Regulation 882/2004 competent authorities may exchange among themselves or provide to other OFFC authorities any information received by them in the execution and enforcement of relevant feed law or relevant food law.

(2) For the purpose of executing and enforcing relevant feed law or relevant food law, competent authorities may exchange among themselves any information received by them in the execution and enforcement of such law.

(3) For the purposes of facilitating the execution and enforcement of relevant feed law or relevant food law in England, Wales and Scotland, competent authorities may share information received by them in the execution and enforcement of relevant feed law or relevant food law with the bodies that execute and enforce such law in those countries.

(4) Paragraphs (1), (2) and (3) are without prejudice to any other power of competent authorities to disclose information by or under Community legislation.

(5) For the purposes of this regulation, “other OFFC authorities” means authorities designated in the United Kingdom as competent authorities for the purposes of Regulation 882/2004 other than the competent authorities designated under these Regulations.

Obtaining information

5.—(1) For the purpose of enabling competent authorities and member States to fulfil the obligations placed on them by Regulation 882/2004 and for the purpose of executing and enforcing relevant feed law or relevant food law, a competent authority may require a control body —

(a)to provide the competent authority with any information which it has reasonable cause to believe the control body is able to give; and

(b)to make available to the competent authority for inspection by it any records which it has reasonable cause to believe are held by the control body or are otherwise within its control (and, if they are kept in computerised form, to make them available in a legible form).

(2) The competent authority may copy any records made available to it under paragraph (1)(b).

(3) A person who —

(a)fails without reasonable excuse to comply with any requirement imposed under paragraph (1); or

(b)in purported compliance with such a requirement furnishes information which that person knows to be false or misleading in any material particular or recklessly furnishes information which is false or misleading in any material particular,

is guilty of an offence.

(4) For the purposes of paragraph (1), the term “control body” includes any member, officer or employee of a control body.

Power to issue codes of recommended practice

6.—(1) For the guidance of district councils the Department may issue codes of recommended practice as regards —

(a)functions conferred upon district councils in their capacity as competent authorities by or under Regulation 882/2004; or

(b)the execution and enforcement of the Import Provisions;

and any such code shall be laid before the Assembly after being issued.

(2) The Agency may, after consulting the Department, give a district council a direction requiring it to take any specified steps in order to comply with a code issued under this regulation.

(3) In exercise of the functions conferred on it as a competent authority by or under Regulation 882/2004 and in the execution and enforcement of the Import Provisions, each district council —

(a)shall have regard to any relevant provision of any such code; and

(b)shall comply with any direction which is given under this regulation that requires it to take any specified steps in order to comply with such a code.

(4) Any direction under paragraph (2) shall, on the application of the Agency, be enforceable by an order of mandamus.

(5) The Agency shall consult the Department before making an application under paragraph (4).

(6) Before issuing any code under this regulation, the Department shall have regard to any relevant advice given by the Agency.

Monitoring of enforcement action

7.—(1) The Agency has the function of monitoring the performance of enforcement authorities in enforcing relevant audit legislation.

(2) That function includes, in particular, setting standards of performance (whether for enforcement authorities generally or for particular authorities) in relation to the enforcement of any relevant audit legislation.

(3) Each annual report of the Agency shall contain a report on its activities during the year in enforcing any relevant audit legislation for which it is the enforcement authority and its performance in respect of —

(a)any standards under paragraph (2) that apply to those activities; and

(b)any objectives relating to those activities that are specified in the statement of objectives and practices under section 22 of the Food Standards Act 1999(5).

(4) The Agency may make a report to any other enforcement authority on their performance in enforcing any relevant audit legislation and such a report may include guidance as to action which the Agency considers would improve that performance.

(5) The Agency may direct an authority to which such a report has been made —

(a)to arrange for the publication in such manner as may be specified in the direction of, or of specified information relating to, the report; and

(b)within such period as may be so specified to notify the Agency of what action they have taken or propose to take in response to the report.

(6) Section 19 of the Food Standards Act 1999 shall apply in relation to information obtained through monitoring under this regulation as if it were information obtained through monitoring under section 12 of that Act.

Power to request information relating to enforcement action

8.—(1) For the purpose of carrying out its function under regulation 7 in relation to any enforcement authority the Agency may require a person mentioned in paragraph (2) —

(a)to provide the Agency with any information which it has reasonable cause to believe that person is able to give; or

(b)to make available to the Agency for inspection any records which it has reasonable cause to believe are held by that person or otherwise within that person’s control (and, if they are kept in computerised form, to make them available in a legible form).

(2) A requirement under paragraph (1) may be imposed on —

(a)the enforcement authority or any member, officer or employee of the authority; or

(b)a person subject to any duty under relevant audit legislation (being a duty enforceable by an enforcement authority) or any officer or employee of such a person.

(3) The Agency may copy any records made available to it in pursuance of a requirement under paragraph (1)(b).

Power of entry for persons monitoring enforcement action

9.—(1) The Agency may authorise any individual (whether a member of its staff or otherwise) to exercise the powers specified in paragraph (4) for the purpose of carrying out its function under regulation 7 in relation to any enforcement authority.

(2) An authorisation under this regulation shall not be issued except in pursuance of a decision taken by the Agency itself or by a committee, sub–committee or member of the Agency acting on behalf of the Agency.

(3) An authorisation under this regulation shall be in writing and may be given subject to any limitations or conditions specified in the authorisation (including conditions relating to hygienic precautions to be taken while exercising powers in pursuance of the authorisation).

(4) An authorised person may —

(a)enter any premises mentioned in paragraph (5) at any reasonable hour in order to inspect the premises or anything which may be found on them;

(b)take samples of any articles or substances found on such premises;

(c)inspect and copy any records found on such premises (and, if they are kept in computerised form, require them to be made available in a legible form);

(d)require any person present on such premises to provide such facilities, such records or information and such other assistance as the authorised person may reasonably request.

(5) The premises which may be entered by an authorised person are —

(a)any premises occupied by the enforcement authority;

(b)any laboratory or similar premises at which work related to the enforcement of any relevant legislation has been carried out for the enforcement authority; and

(c)any other premises (not being a private dwelling–house) which the authorised person has reasonable cause to believe are premises in respect of which the enforcement powers of the enforcement authority are (or have been) exercisable.

(6) The power to enter premises conferred on authorised persons includes power to take with them any other person they may consider appropriate.

(7) Authorised persons shall on request —

(a)produce their authorisation before exercising any powers under paragraph (4); and

(b)provide a document identifying any sample taken, or documents copied, under those powers.

(8) If a person (A) who enters any premises by virtue of this regulation discloses to any other person any information obtained on the premises with regard to any trade secret A is, unless the disclosure is made in the performance of a duty, guilty of an offence.

(9) Where the Agency is the enforcement authority in relation to relevant audit legislation this regulation applies in relation to the Agency in respect of its performance in enforcing those provisions, with the omission of paragraph (5)(a).

(10) In this regulation “authorised person” means a person authorised under this regulation.

Meaning of “enforcement authority” and related expressions

10.—(1) In regulations 7 to 9 “relevant audit legislation” means relevant feed law and relevant food law in respect of which the Agency is designated as a competent authority pursuant to paragraphs (1) and (2) respectively of regulation 3 but does not include “relevant legislation” as defined in section 15 of the Food Standards Act 1999.

(2) In regulations 7 to 9 “enforcement authority” means the authority by whom relevant audit legislation is to be enforced and includes the Agency itself if by virtue of that legislation it is the enforcement authority in relation to it but does not include the European Commission; and “enforcement” in relation to relevant audit legislation includes the execution of any provisions of that legislation.

(3) Any reference in regulations 7 to 9 (however expressed) to the performance of an enforcement authority in enforcing any relevant audit legislation includes a reference to the capacity of that authority to enforce it.

Offences relating to regulations 8 and 9

11.  A person who —

(a)intentionally obstructs a person exercising powers under paragraph (4)(a), (b) or (c) of regulation 9;

(b)fails without reasonable excuse to comply with any requirement imposed under paragraph (1) of regulation 8 or paragraph (4)(d) of regulation 9; or

(c)in purported compliance with such a requirement furnishes information which that person knows to be false or misleading in any material particular or recklessly furnishes information which is false or misleading in any material particular,

is guilty of an offence.

Right of appeal

12.—(1) Any person who is aggrieved by a decision of the competent authority taken in respect of an establishment subject to approval under Article 4(2) of Regulation 853/2004 pursuant to —

(a)Article 31(2)(c) of Regulation 882/2004 (approval);

(b)Article 31(2)(d) of Regulation 882/2004 (conditional approval and full approval); or

(c)Article 31(2)(e) of Regulation 882/2004 (withdrawal of approval and suspension of approval),

may appeal to a court of summary jurisdiction.

(2) The procedure on an appeal to a court of summary jurisdiction under paragraph (1) shall be by way of notice under Part VII of the Magistrates’ Courts (Northern Ireland) Order 1981(6).

(3) The period within which an appeal under paragraph (1) may be brought shall be one month from and including the date on which notice of the decision was served on the person desiring to appeal.

(4) Where on an appeal under paragraph (1) a court of summary jurisdiction determines that the decision of the competent authority is incorrect, the authority shall give effect to the determination of the court.

(5) Where an approval is refused or withdrawn, the food business operator who, immediately before such refusal or withdrawal, had been using the establishment concerned may continue to use it, subject to any conditions imposed by the competent authority for the protection of public health, unless —

(a)the time for appealing against the decision to refuse or withdraw the approval has expired without an appeal having been lodged; and

(b)where an appeal against that decision has been lodged, the appeal has been finally disposed of or abandoned.

(6) Nothing in paragraph (5) shall permit an establishment to be used for a food business if —

(a)a hygiene prohibition order, a hygiene emergency prohibition notice or a hygiene emergency prohibition order has been imposed in relation to the establishment;

(b)a prohibition order, an emergency prohibition notice, an emergency prohibition order or an emergency control order has been imposed in relation to the establishment pursuant to Article 10, 11 or 12 of the Order;

(c)the approval of the establishment has been suspended pursuant to Article 31(2)(e) of Regulation 882/2004; or

(d)the establishment is prevented from operating following the service of a remedial action notice.

(7) In this regulation each of the terms “hygiene prohibition order”, “hygiene emergency prohibition notice”, “hygiene emergency prohibition order” and “remedial action notice” has the meaning that it bears in the Food Hygiene Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2006(7).

Staff of competent authority of another member State

13.  Authorised officers of a competent authority may take with them members of staff of the competent authority of another member State for the purpose of conducting an administrative enquiry under Article 36 of Regulation 882/2004.

Commission experts

14.—(1) When enforcing officers enter premises for the purposes of executing and enforcing official controls they may take with them Commission experts to enable those experts to carry out functions under Article 45 of Regulation 882/2004.

(2) In paragraph (1) and in regulation 16 (5)(b) “enforcing officer” means an authorised officer of any authority which is responsible for executing and enforcing official controls for the verification of compliance with relevant feed law or relevant food law.

Prohibition on disclosure of trade secrets

15.  If a person (A) enters any premises by virtue of regulation 13 or 14 and discloses to any other person any information obtained on the premises with regard to any trade secret A is, unless the disclosure is made in the performance of a duty, guilty of an offence.

Execution and enforcement

16.—(1) The authority responsible for executing and enforcing paragraph (3) of regulation 5 shall be the competent authority who imposed the requirement on the control body concerned under paragraph (1) of that regulation.

(2) The authority responsible for executing and enforcing paragraph (8) of regulation 9 and regulation 11 shall be the Agency.

(3) The authority responsible for executing and enforcing regulation 15 shall be the authority whose officer took the person who made the disclosure on to the premises concerned.

(4) The authority responsible for executing and enforcing paragraph (9) of regulation 17 shall be the authority who authorised the person who entered the premises and disclosed the information.

(5) The authority responsible for executing and enforcing regulation 18 shall—

(a)where the offence relates to the execution of regulation 13, be the competent authority whose authorised officer took with them a member of staff of the competent authority of another member State;

(b)where the offence relates to the execution of regulation 14, be the authority whose enforcing officer took with them a Commission expert; and

(c)where the offence relates to the execution of regulation 17, be the relevant enforcement authority whose authorised officer exercised powers under that regulation.

Powers of entry

17.—(1) Authorised officers of a district council shall, on producing, if so required, some duly authenticated document showing their authority, have a right at all reasonable hours —

(a)to enter any premises within the district for the purpose of ascertaining whether there is or has been on the premises a contravention of any provision of this Part for which that district council has enforcement responsibility pursuant to regulation 16; and

(b)to enter any premises, whether within or outside the district, for the purpose of ascertaining whether there is on the premises any evidence of such a contravention within that district,

but admission to any premises used only as a private dwelling–house shall not be demanded as of right unless 24 hours’ notice of the intended entry has been given to the occupier.

(2) Authorised officers of the feed authority shall, on producing if so required some duly authenticated document showing their authority, have a right at all reasonable hours to enter any premises for the purpose of ascertaining whether there is or has been on the premises a contravention of any provision of this Part for which that authority has enforcement responsibility pursuant to regulation 16; but admission to any premises used only as a private dwelling-house shall not be demanded as of right unless 24 hours’ notice of the intended entry has been given to the occupier.

(3) Authorised officers of the Agency shall, on producing if so required some duly authenticated document showing their authority, have a right at all reasonable hours to enter any premises for the purpose of —

(a)ascertaining whether there is or has been on the premises a contravention of any provision of this Part for which the Agency has enforcement responsibility pursuant to regulation 16; and

(b)ascertaining whether there is on the premises any evidence of such a contravention,

but admission to any premises used only as a private dwelling–house shall not be demanded as of right unless 24 hours’ notice of the intended entry has been given to the occupier.

(4) If a lay magistrate, on sworn complaint in writing, is satisfied that there is reasonable ground for entry onto any premises for any such purpose as is mentioned in paragraph (1), (2) or (3) and either —

(a)that admission to the premises has been refused, or a refusal is apprehended, and that notice of the intention to apply for a warrant has been given to the occupier; or

(b)that an application for admission, or the giving of such a notice, would defeat the object of the entry, or that the case is one of urgency, or that the premises are unoccupied or the occupier is temporarily absent,

the lay magistrate may by signed warrant authorise the authorised officer to enter the premises, if need be by reasonable force.

(5) Every warrant granted under this regulation shall continue in force for a period of one month.

(6) Authorised officers entering any premises by virtue of this regulation, or of a warrant issued under it, may take with them such other persons as they consider necessary, and on leaving any unoccupied premises which they have entered by virtue of such a warrant shall leave them as effectively secured against unauthorised entry as they found them.

(7) Authorised officers entering premises by virtue of this regulation, or of a warrant issued under it, may inspect any records (in whatever form they are held) and, where any such records are stored in any electronic form —

(a)may have access to, and inspect and check the operation of, any computer and any associated apparatus or material which is or has been in use in connection with the records; and

(b)may require any person having charge of, or otherwise concerned with the operation of, the computer, apparatus or material to afford them such assistance as they may reasonably require.

(8) Any officers exercising any power conferred by paragraph (7) may —

(a)seize and detain any records which they have reason to believe may be required as evidence in proceedings under any of the provisions of this Part; and

(b)where the records are stored in any electronic form, require the records to be produced in a form in which they may be taken away.

(9) If a person (A) who enters any premises by virtue of this regulation, or of a warrant issued under it, discloses to any other person any information obtained by A on the premises with regard to any trade secret, A shall, unless the disclosure was made in the performance of a duty, be guilty of an offence.

(10) Nothing in this regulation authorises any person, except with the permission of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development under the Diseases of Animals (Northern Ireland) Order 1981(8), to enter any premises —

(a)on which an animal or bird affected with any disease to which that Order applies is kept; and

(b)which is situated in a place declared under that Order to be infected with such a disease.

Obstruction etc. of officers

18.—(1) A person who —

(a)intentionally obstructs any person acting in the execution of regulation 13, 14 or 17 ; or

(b)without reasonable cause, fails to give to any person acting in the execution of regulation 13, 14 or 17 any assistance or information which that person may reasonably require of them for the performance of their functions under those regulations,

shall be guilty of an offence.

(2) Any person who, in purported compliance with any such requirement as is mentioned in paragraph (1)(b)—

(a)furnishes information which that person knows to be false or misleading in a material particular; or

(b)recklessly furnishes information which is false or misleading in a material particular,

shall be guilty of an offence.

(3) Nothing in paragraph (1)(b) shall be construed as requiring any person to answer any question or give any information if to do so might incriminate that person.

Penalties

19.—(1) A person guilty of an offence under paragraph (9) of regulation 17 shall be liable —

(a)on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum; or

(b)on conviction on indictment to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years, to a fine or to both.

(2) A person guilty of an offence under paragraph (3) of regulation 5, paragraph (8) of regulation 9, regulation 11 or regulation 15 shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale.

(3) A person guilty of an offence under regulation 18 shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three months or to both.

Time limit for prosecutions

20.  A prosecution for an offence under paragraph (9) of regulation 17 shall not be begun after the expiry of —

(a)three years from the commission of the offence; or

(b)one year from its discovery by the prosecution,

whichever is the earlier.

PART 3OFFICIAL CONTROLS ON FEED AND FOOD OF NON-ANIMAL ORIGIN FROM THIRD COUNTRIES

Interpretation of this Part

21.  In this Part —

“authorised officer”, in relation to an enforcement authority, means any person (whether or not an officer of the authority) who is authorised by it in writing, either generally or specially, to act in matters arising under the Import Provisions;

“the Commissioners” means the Commissioners for Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs;

“enforcement authority” means the feed authority or a district council;

“feed” does not include additives of a type mentioned in Article 6(1)(e) of or paragraph 4(d) of Annex I to Regulation (EC) No. 1831/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council on additives for use in animal nutrition(9) as amended or any premixture consisting solely of a combination of such additives;

“outside Northern Ireland enforcement authority” means the body responsible for enforcing the legislation in force with respect to imported products in any part of the United Kingdom except Northern Ireland;

“product” means feed or food whose import is regulated by Article 15 of Regulation 882/2004 (official controls on feed and food of non–animal origin not included in the scope of Council Directive 97/78/EC laying down the principles governing the organisation of veterinary checks on products entering the Community from third countries(10)) and includes those composite products and foodstuffs which are not required to be subject to veterinary checks as provided in Commission Decision 2007/275/EC concerning lists of animals and products to be subject to controls at border inspection posts under Council Directives 91/496/EEC and 97/78/EC(11);

“the relevant territories” means the territories referred to in Annex I to Regulation 882/2004; and

“specified import provision” means any provision of Regulation 669/2009 that is specified in Column 1 of Schedule 6 and whose subject-matter is described in Column 2 of that Schedule.

Feed enforcement responsibilities and competent authority status

22.—(1) It shall be the responsibility of the feed authority to execute and enforce the Import Provisions in relation to feed.

(2) The feed authority is designated as the competent authority for the purposes of the provisions of Regulation 669/2009 apart from Article 19 in so far as those provisions apply in relation to relevant feed law.

(3) The Agency is designated as the competent authority for the purposes of Article 19 of Regulation 669/2009 in so far as it applies to relevant feed law.

Food enforcement responsibilities and competent authority status

23.—(1) It shall be the responsibility of each district council to execute and enforce the Import Provisions in its district in relation to food.

(2) District Councils are designated as the competent authorities for the purposes of the provisions of Regulation 669/2009 apart from Article 19 in so far as those provisions apply in relation to relevant food law.

(3) Where a district council is designated as a competent authority pursuant to paragraph (2) the designation shall extend to its district only.

(4) The Agency is designated as the competent authority for the purposes of Article 19 of Regulation 669/2009 in so far as it applies to relevant food law.

Functions of the Commissioners

24.  The Commissioners shall carry out the functions given to customs services under Article 24 of Regulation 882/2004 and Article 10 of Regulation 669/2009, in each case in relation to feed and food.

Exchange of information

25.—(1) The Commissioners, the Agency and any enforcement authority may exchange information for the purposes of the Import Provisions, and may divulge information to the bodies defined as enforcement authorities in the provisions corresponding to Part 3 of these Regulations in England, Wales and Scotland for the purposes of the Import Provisions or the provisions corresponding to the Import Provisions in those jurisdictions.

(2) Paragraph (1) is without prejudice to any other power of the Commissioners, the Agency or any enforcement authority to disclose information.

(3) A person, including a servant of the Crown, may not disclose any information received from the Commissioners under paragraph (1) if —

(a)the information relates to a person whose identity—

(i)is specified in the disclosure; or

(ii)can be deduced from the disclosure;

(b)the disclosure is for a purpose other than the purposes specified in paragraph (1); and

(c)the Commissioners have not given their prior consent to the disclosure.

Deferred execution and enforcement

26.—(1) Subject to paragraph (6), where —

(a)a product from a third country has entered Northern Ireland;

(b)customs examination of that product has been completed or has been deferred until it reaches its place of destination elsewhere in the United Kingdom;

(c)an authorised officer of the enforcement authority for the place of entry has on reasonable grounds issued an authorisation confirming that —

(i)examination of the product for the purposes of the Import Provisions should be deferred until the product arrives at its destination elsewhere in Northern Ireland, or

(ii)such examination should take place when the product arrives at its destination elsewhere in the United Kingdom under legislation with respect to imported products in force there; and

(d)a person importing the product gives that authorised officer an undertaking in writing as to the matters specified in paragraph (2),

the enforcement authority for the place in which the destination is located, if in Northern Ireland, shall become responsible for enforcing and executing the Import Provisions with respect to that product once it arrives there.

(2) The undertaking shall —

(a)state the destination of the product; and

(b)confirm that —

(i)the container containing the product has been sealed and will not be opened until it has reached that destination,

(ii)the opening of the container has been authorised by the enforcement authority for the place in which the destination is located, if it is in Northern Ireland or the outside Northern Ireland enforcement authority if the destination is not in Northern Ireland, and

(iii)the container will be available at that destination for examination under the Import Provisions or, as the case may be, legislation with respect to imported products in force elsewhere in the United Kingdom.

(3) Where an authorised officer of an enforcement authority issues an authorisation pursuant to paragraph (1)(c), the authorised officer shall —

(a)(if the product’s place of destination is within Northern Ireland) notify the enforcement authority for that place or (if the product’s place of destination is in any other part of the United Kingdom) notify the outside Northern Ireland enforcement authority —

(i)that the product (so described as to enable it to be identified) has not been examined under the Import Provisions, and

(ii)if customs examination of the product has been deferred, of that fact; and

(b)send the relevant authority a copy of any undertaking given pursuant to paragraph (1)(d).

(4) Where a product has been sent to a destination in Northern Ireland from another part of the United Kingdom, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man and examination of that product has been deferred under legislation with respect to imported products in force there, the enforcement authority for the place of destination shall become responsible for enforcing and executing the Import Provisions with respect to that product once it arrives in Northern Ireland.

(5) A person shall not breach an undertaking given under paragraph (1)(d).

(6) The deferred execution and enforcement provisions set out in this regulation are subject to any official controls that take place pursuant to Article 15(5) of Regulation 882/2004.

Prohibition on introduction of certain feed and food

27.—(1) The following are prohibited —

(a)the introduction into Northern Ireland from a third country of specified feed that fails to comply with feed safety requirements;

(b)the introduction into Northern Ireland from elsewhere in the relevant territories of specified feed that originates in a third country and fails to comply with feed safety requirements;

(c)the introduction into Northern Ireland from a third country of specified food that fails to comply with —

(i)food safety requirements, or

(ii)the requirements of Articles 3 to 6 of Regulation 852/2004; and

(d)the introduction into Northern Ireland from elsewhere in the relevant territories of specified food that originates in a third country and fails to comply with —

(i)food safety requirements, or

(ii)the requirements of Articles 3 to 6 of Regulation 852/2004.

(2) In this regulation —

(a)“specified feed” means feed that is a product; and

(b)“specified food” means food that is a product.

Checks on products

28.—(1) The person responsible for introducing any product into Northern Ireland shall permit an authorised officer of an enforcement authority to carry out checks in relation to the product pursuant to Article 16 of Regulation 882/2004.

(2) When an authorised officer is carrying out checks in relation to a product pursuant to Article 16 of Regulation 882/2004, the person introducing the product shall provide the facilities and assistance which the authorised officer reasonably requires to carry them out.

(3) When an authorised officer of an enforcement authority is carrying out an identity check or a physical check on a product in accordance with Article 16 of Regulation 882/2004 the authorised officer shall be entitled to require that the check takes place at a specified place.

Suspension of designation of points of entry

29.—(1) Where the Agency is satisfied that—

(a)the continued operation of a designated point of entry presents a serious risk to public or animal health; or

(b)at a designated point of entry, there has been a serious breach of the minimum requirements for designated points of entry laid down in Article 4 of Regulation 669/2009,

it may suspend the designation of the point of entry either in full or in part by service on the operator of the point of entry of a written notice to that effect.

(2) Upon service of a notice under paragraph (1), the point of entry shall cease to be a designated point of entry to the extent specified in that notice until it is again so designated in accordance with Article 17(1) of Regulation 882/2004.

Detention, destruction, special treatment, re–dispatch and other appropriate measures and costs

30.—(1) An enforcement authority shall have the power to do anything that a competent authority may do under Articles 18 to 21 and 24(3) of Regulation 882/2004 if the conditions set out in those Articles are fulfilled.

(2) The enforcement authority shall be the competent authority for the purposes of Article 22 of Regulation 882/2004.

Notices pursuant to Articles 18 and 19 of Regulation 882/2004 (imports of feed and food from third countries)

31.—(1) If an authorised officer of an enforcement authority proposes to place a consignment of feed or food under official detention under Article 18 or 19(1) of Regulation 882/2004 that officer shall serve a notice to that effect on the feed or food business operator, as the case may be, responsible for it.

(2) If an authorised officer of an enforcement authority proposes to take any of the measures referred to in Article 19(1)(a) or (b) of Regulation 882/2004 in respect of feed or food that officer shall serve a notice to that effect on the feed or food business operator, as the case may be, responsible for it after having heard that feed or food business operator as provided in Article 19.

(3) If an authorised officer of an enforcement authority proposes to take any action referred to in Article 19(2) of Regulation 882/2004 in respect of feed or food that officer shall serve a notice to that effect on the feed or food business operator, as the case may be, responsible for it.

Right of appeal in respect of notices served under regulation 31

32.—(1) Any person who is aggrieved by a decision of an authorised officer of an enforcement authority to serve a notice under regulation 31 may appeal to a court of summary jurisdiction.

(2) The procedure on an appeal to a court of summary jurisdiction under paragraph (1) shall be by way of notice under Part VII of the Magistrates’ Courts (Northern Ireland) Order 1981(12).

(3) The period within which an appeal under paragraph (1) may be brought shall be one month from and including the date on which the notice was served on the person desiring to appeal.

(4) Where on an appeal under paragraph (1) a court of summary jurisdiction determines that the decision of the authorised officer of the enforcement authority is incorrect, the authority shall give effect to the determination of the court.

Serious risk to animal or public health

33.—(1) Where the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development or the Agency learns or has reasonable grounds to suspect that any food or feed that has been or may be introduced into Northern Ireland from a third country is likely to constitute a serious risk to animal or public health, they each have the power to issue a written declaration suspending or imposing conditions on the introduction into Northern Ireland of any product from the whole or any part of that third country.

(2) Such a declaration shall be published in such manner as the person who issued it thinks fit and shall specify the product and the third country or part thereof concerned.

(3) A declaration which imposes conditions on the introduction of any product from a third country or part thereof shall specify those conditions.

(4) Where a declaration is in force suspending the introduction of any product, a person shall not introduce that product into Northern Ireland if it originates in the third country or part thereof specified in the declaration.

(5) Where a declaration is in force imposing conditions on the introduction of any product, a person shall not introduce that product into Northern Ireland if it originates in the third country or part thereof specified in the declaration unless the product complies with conditions specified in the declaration.

(6) A declaration may be modified, suspended or revoked by a further written declaration published, so far as is practicable, in the same manner and to the same extent as the original declaration.

Costs and fees

34.—(1) The costs incurred by the enforcement authority for which the feed or food business operator or its representative is liable under Article 22 of Regulation 882/2004 shall be payable by the feed or food business operator or its representative on the written demand of the enforcement authority.

(2) The fees required to be collected by a competent authority under Article 14 of Regulation 669/2009 shall be payable by the feed or food business operator subject to the increased level of official controls provided for in that Regulation or its representative on the written demand of the competent authority.

Procurement by authorised officers of samples with regard to food

35.  Authorised officers of a district council may, for the purposes of the execution and enforcement by that district council of the Import Provisions —

(a)purchase a sample of any food, or any substance capable of being used in the preparation of food;

(b)take a sample of any food, or any such substance, which —

(i)appears to them to be intended for placing on the market or to have been placed on the market, for human consumption, or

(ii)is found by them on or in any premises which they are authorised to enter by or under regulation 37;

(c)take a sample from any food source, or a sample of any contact material, which is found by them on or in any such premises; and

(d)take a sample of any article or substance which is found by them on or in any such premises and which they have reason to believe may be required as evidence in proceedings under any of the provisions of the Import Provisions.

Analysis etc. of samples

36.—(1) Authorised officers of a district council who have procured a sample under regulation 35 shall —

(a)if they consider that the sample should be analysed, submit it to be analysed by a public analyst;

(b)if they consider that the sample should be examined, submit it to be examined by a food examiner.

(2) A person, other than such an officer, who has purchased any food, or any substance capable of being used in the preparation of food, may submit a sample of it —

(a)to be analysed by the public analyst for the area in which the purchase was made; or

(b)to be examined by a food examiner.

(3) If, in any case where a sample is proposed to be submitted for analysis under this regulation, the office of public analyst for the district in question is vacant, the sample shall be submitted to the public analyst for some other district.

(4) If, in any case where a sample is proposed to be or is submitted for analysis or examination under this regulation, the food analyst or examiner determines that they are for any reason unable to perform the analysis or examination, the sample shall be submitted or, as the case may be, sent by them to such other food analyst or examiner as they may determine.

(5) A food analyst or examiner shall analyse or examine as soon as practicable any sample submitted or sent to them under this regulation, but may, except where —

(a)they are the public analyst for the district in question; and

(b)the sample is submitted to them for analysis by an authorised officer of a district council,

demand in advance the payment of such reasonable fee as they may require.

(6) Any food analyst or examiner who has analysed or examined a sample shall give to the person by whom it was submitted a certificate specifying the result of the analysis or examination.

(7) Any certificate given by a food analyst or examiner under paragraph (6) shall be signed by them, but the analysis or examination may be made by any person acting under their direction.

(8) In any proceedings under the Import Provisions, the production by one of the parties —

(a)of a document purporting to be a certificate given by a food analyst or examiner under paragraph (6); or

(b)of a document supplied to that party by the other party as being a copy of such a certificate,

shall be sufficient evidence of the facts stated in it unless, in a case falling within sub–paragraph (a), the other party requires that the food analyst or examiner shall be called as a witness.

(9) Any reference in this regulation to a public analyst for a given district shall, where two or more public analysts have been appointed for that district, be construed as a reference to either or any of them.

(10) The Food Safety (Sampling and Qualifications) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1991(13) shall apply in relation to a sample procured by an authorised officer of a district council under regulation 35 as if it were a sample procured by an authorised officer under Article 29 of the Order.

(11) The certificate given by a food analyst or examiner under paragraph (6) shall be in the form set out in Schedule 3 to the Food Safety (Sampling and Qualifications) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1991.

Powers of entry of authorised officers of a district council

37.—(1) Authorised officers of a district council shall, on producing, if so required, some duly authenticated document showing their authority, have a right at all reasonable hours —

(a)to enter any premises within the district for the purpose of ascertaining whether there is or has been on the premises any contravention of the provisions of the Import Provisions in relation to food;

(b)to enter any premises, whether within or outside the district, for the purpose of ascertaining whether there is on the premises any evidence of any such contravention within that district; and

(c)to enter any premises for the purpose of the performance by the authority of its functions under the Import Provisions,

but admission to any premises used only as a private dwelling–house shall not be demanded as of right unless 24 hours’ notice of the intended entry has been given to the occupier.

(2) If a lay magistrate, on sworn complaint in writing, is satisfied that there is reasonable ground for entry onto any premises for any such purpose as is mentioned in paragraph (1) and either —

(a)that admission to the premises has been refused, or a refusal is apprehended, and that notice of the intention to apply for a warrant has been given to the occupier; or

(b)that an application for admission, or the giving of such a notice, would defeat the object of the entry, or that the case is one of urgency, or that the premises are unoccupied or the occupier is temporarily absent,

the lay magistrate may by signed warrant authorise the authorised officer to enter the premises, if need be by reasonable force.

(3) Every warrant granted under this regulation shall continue in force for a period of one month.

(4) Authorised officers entering any premises by virtue of this regulation, or of a warrant issued under it, may take with them such other persons as they consider necessary, and on leaving any unoccupied premises which they have entered by virtue of such a warrant shall leave them as effectively secured against unauthorised entry as they found them.

(5) Authorised officers entering premises by virtue of this regulation, or of a warrant issued under it, may inspect any records (in whatever form they are held) relating to a food business and, where any such records are stored in any electronic form —

(a)may have access to, and inspect and check the operation of, any computer and any associated apparatus or material which is or has been in use in connection with the records; and

(b)may require any person having charge of, or otherwise concerned with the operation of, the computer, apparatus or material to afford them such assistance as they may reasonably require.

(6) Any officer exercising any power conferred by paragraph (5) may —

(a)seize and detain any records which that officer has reason to believe may be required as evidence in proceedings under any of the provisions of the Import Provisions; and

(b)where the records are stored in any electronic form, require the records to be produced in a form in which they may be taken away.

(7) If a person (A) who enters any premises by virtue of this regulation, or of a warrant issued under it, discloses to any other person any information obtained by A on the premises with regard to any trade secret, A shall, unless the disclosure was made in the performance of a duty, be guilty of an offence.

(8) Nothing in this regulation authorises any person, except with the permission of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development under the Diseases of Animals (Northern Ireland) Order 1981, to enter any premises —

(a)on which an animal or bird affected with any disease to which that Order applies is kept; and

(b)which is situated in a place declared under that Order to be infected with such a disease.

Obstruction etc. of officers (imports)

38.—(1) Any person who —

(a)intentionally obstructs any person acting in the execution of the Import Provisions; or

(b)without reasonable cause, fails to give to any person acting in the execution of the Import Provisions any assistance or information which that person may reasonably require of them for the performance of their functions under the Import Provisions,

shall be guilty of an offence.

(2) Any person who, in purported compliance with any such requirement as is mentioned in paragraph (1)(b)—

(a)furnishes information which that person knows to be false or misleading in a material particular; or

(b)recklessly furnishes information which is false or misleading in a material particular,

shall be guilty of an offence.

(3) Nothing in paragraph (1)(b) shall be construed as requiring any person to answer any question or give any information if to do so might incriminate that person.

Offences and penalties

39.—(1) Any person who —

(a)contravenes or fails to comply with any of the specified import provisions;

(b)contravenes paragraph (3) of regulation 25, paragraph (5) of regulation 26 or paragraph (4) or (5) of regulation 33;

(c)contravenes any of the prohibitions in paragraph (1) of regulation 27;

(d)to the extent that contravention of regulation 28 does not constitute an offence under regulation 38, contravenes regulation 28; or

(e)fails to comply with a notice served upon that person under the Import Provisions,

shall be guilty of an offence.

(2) Subject to paragraph (3), a person guilty of an offence under this Part shall be liable —

(a)on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum; or

(b)on conviction on indictment to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years, to a fine or to both.

(3) A person guilty of an offence under regulation 38 shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three months or to both.

Time limit for prosecutions (imports)

40.  A prosecution for an offence under this Part which is punishable under regulation 39(2) shall not be begun after the expiry of —

(a)three years from the commission of the offence; or

(b)one year from its discovery by the prosecution,

whichever is the earlier.

PART 4RECOVERY OF EXPENSES

Expenses arising from additional official controls

41.  Expenses charged by a competent authority to an operator pursuant to Article 28 of Regulation 882/2004 shall be payable by the operator on the written demand of the competent authority.

Expenses arising in respect of co-ordinated assistance and follow-up by the Commission

42.  Expenses charged by a competent authority to a feed or food business pursuant to Article 40(4) of Regulation 882/2004 shall be payable by the feed or food business on the written demand of the competent authority.

PART 5ENFORCEMENT AND SUPPLEMENTARY PROVISIONS

Offences due to fault of another person

43.  Where the commission by any person of an offence under these Regulations is due to the act or default of some other person, that other person shall be guilty of the offence; and a person may be convicted of the offence by virtue of this regulation whether or not proceedings are taken against the first–mentioned person.

Defence of due diligence

44.—(1) In any proceedings for an offence under these Regulations, it shall, subject to paragraph (2), be a defence to prove that the accused took all reasonable precautions and exercised all due diligence to avoid committing the offence or to avoid the commission by a person under the accused’s control.

(2) If in any case the defence provided by paragraph (1) involves the allegation that the commission of the offence was due to an act or default of another person, or to reliance on information supplied by another person, the accused shall not, without leave of the court, be entitled to rely on that defence unless —

(a)at least seven clear days before the hearing; and

(b)where there has been a previous appearance by the accused before a court in connection with the alleged offence, before the expiration of one month from that first such appearance,

the accused has served on the prosecutor a notice in writing giving such information identifying or assisting in the identification of that other person as was then in the accused’s possession.

Protection of officers acting in good faith

45.—(1) An officer of a relevant body is not personally liable in respect of any act done by that officer —

(a)in the execution or purported execution of the Official Control Regulations; and

(b)within the scope of the employment,

if that act was done in the honest belief that a duty under the Official Control Regulations required or entitled the officer to do it.

(2) Paragraph (1) shall not be construed as relieving any relevant body of any liability in respect of the acts of its officers.

(3) Where an action has been brought against an officer of a relevant body in respect of an act done by that officer —

(a)in the execution or purported execution of the Official Control Regulations; but

(b)outside the scope of the employment,

the body may indemnify the officer against the whole or a part of any damages which the officer has been ordered to pay or any costs which may have been incurred by the officer if it is satisfied that the officer honestly believed that the act complained of was within the scope of the employment.

(4) In so far as a district council is a relevant body for the purposes of this regulation, a public analyst appointed by a district council shall be treated for the purposes of this regulation as being an officer of the district council, whether or not the appointment is a whole-time one.

(5) In this regulation “relevant body” means a body acting as —

(a)a competent authority;

(b)an enforcement authority as defined in regulation 21; or

(c)a relevant enforcement authority.

Amendment to the Feed (Hygiene and Enforcement) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2005

46.  For Schedule 1 (Specified Feed Law) to the Feed (Hygiene and Enforcement) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2005(14) there is substituted the Schedule set out in Schedule 7 to these Regulations.

Revocation

47.  The following Regulations are revoked—

(a)the Food (Chilli, Chilli Products, Curcuma and Palm Oil (Emergency Control) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2005(15);

(b)the Official Feed and Food Controls Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2007(16)

Sealed with the Official Seal of the Office of the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety on 18th December 2009.

Andrew McCormick

A senior officer of the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety